AFS-11-171-E 

July 29, 2011 

 Exemption No. 9912C 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2008-1265 

Mr. Mark Simmons 

Heritage Flight Foundation 

353 Greenhaven Road 

Pawcatuck, CT 06379 

Dear Mr. Simmons: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption 

No. 9912. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists the revised 

conditions and limitations. 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated February 14, 2011, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Heritage Flight Foundation (HFF) for an extension of Exemption No. 9912. That 

exemption from §§ 91.315, 119.5(g), and 119.21(a) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations 

allows HFF to conduct living history flight experience (LHFE) operations in the Grumman 

TBM. 

In your petition, you indicate that there has been no change in the conditions and reasons 

relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original exemption. 

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested amendment to the exemption would not set a 

precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to HFF. 

Our Decision 

The FAA has modified and/or added to the conditions and limitations of Exemption No. 9912 

to address several issues raised by another exemption holder. These changes were in order to 

clarify original content, and further define the intent and provide consistency of safety-related 
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aspects of the conditions and limitations. The FAA will be making these changes to all LHFE 

as they are amended or extended. 

Please note that the conditions and limitations included with an exemption are not based on 

specific regulations but are the FAA’s means of ensuring an equivalent level of safety. This 

may necessitate limitations that go beyond the established regulations due to the fact that the 

proposed operation is, by its need for an exemption, outside the normal regulatory structure. 

Limitation No. 16 had previously given the incorrect impression that the aircraft could be 

operated at weights greater than permitted by operating limitations. The wording was revised 

to clarify that the aircraft must be operated within the weight and balance limitations 

prescribed at all times. 

Limitation No. 22 has been added to ensure that the intent of the exemption is clear. 

Passengers wishing to experience aerobatics can obtain rides in aircraft type certificated for 

aerobatics. The LHFE exemptions are designed to provide for experiences not otherwise 

available to the public. Therefore, this limitation will be added to all LHFE exemptions in 

order to clarify the intent of the exemptions. 

Limitation No. 23 prohibits formation flight. Formation flight is already prohibited by 

§ 91.111(b) but this was added to ensure that the exemption holders had a clear understanding 

of this restriction. This limitation will be added to all LHFE exemptions in order to clarify 

the intent of the exemptions. 

Limitation No. 24 has been added requiring a preflight briefing but permitting other than the 

PIC to provide the necessary preflight briefing; however, HFF is reminded that in accordance 

with § 91.107(a)(2), the briefing remains a PIC responsibility. This requirement will be added 

to all LHFE exemptions. 

Limitation No. 26 is added to clarify the issue of manipulating the flight contronls. The 

LHFE exemptions have never permitted the passengers to manipulate the flight controls. 

Only trained crewmembers may manipulate the flight controls. This clarification will be 

added to all LHFE exemptions. 

Limitation No. 28 has been added to require that operators of LHFE must develop a 

continuous analysis and management program for all aircraft subject to this exemption that 

ensures compliance with its inspection program, training program, and conditions and 

limitations of this exemption. This requirement will be added to all LHFE exemptions. 

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 9912 

remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest. Therefore, under the 

authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator has 

delegated to me, I grant your petition, subject to the following conditions and limitations. 
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Conditions and Limitations 

1. This exemption applies only to the Grumman TBM, N85650. 

2. HFF must maintain its limited category airplane in accordance with the: 

a. Maintenance requirements as specified in the appropriate type certificate data 

sheet, 

 as amended; 

b. FAA-approved maintenance inspection program that meets the requirements of 

 § 91.409(e), (f)(4), and (g); and 

c. The appropriate military technical manuals. 

3. The pilot in command (PIC) for the single-engine airplane must: 

a. Hold at least a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land 

 rating, airplane instrument rating, and a G-TBM type rating; 

b. Have completed within the previous 12 calendar months, HFF's PIC qualification 

 and recurrent flight and ground training program in the airplane; 

c. Have completed within the previous 12 calendar months, HFF's PIC proficiency 

 check for the airplane; 

d. Have at least a total of: 

i. 2,500 hours of aeronautical flight experience, 1,000 hours of aeronautical flight 

 experience in single-engine land airplane, and 25 hours in the airplane; or 

ii. Have at least a total of 1,000 hours of aeronautical flight experience, 200 hours 

 of aeronautical flight experience in a single-engine land airplane, and 100 

 hours and 50 takeoffs and 50 landings in the airplane; and 

e. Have accomplished within the previous 90 days, three takeoffs and three landings 

 to a full stop in the airplane. For initial PIC qualification in the specific airplane or 

 if the pilot has allowed his/her takeoff and landing currency to lapse in the airplane, 

 the takeoff and landing currency may not be accomplished during 

 passenger-carrying operations. 

4. HFF must develop and maintain written qualification and recurrent ground training 

 programs for its PIC in the airplane that covers the training subjects listed below. 

 Each PIC must receive the following training within the previous 12 calendar 

 months and be found to be competent and proficient in these areas prior to serving in a 

 PIC position in the airplane: 

REQUIRED TRAINING TASKS 

a. General information and description of the airplane; 
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b. Airplane limitations; 

c. Airplane servicing; 

d. Airspeeds; 

e. Fuel system; 

f. Electrical system; 

g. Hydraulic system; 

h. Engines; 

i. Instruments and avionics; 

j. Landing gear, brakes, controls, and flaps systems; 

k. Propeller; 

l. Emergency procedures, including— 

 (i) Instruction in emergency assignments and procedures, including coordination 

 among crewmembers; 

 (ii) Individual instruction in the location, function, and operation of emergency 

 equipment, including— 

 A. First aid equipment and its proper use; and 

 B. Portable fire extinguishers, with emphasis on the type of extinguisher to be 

 used on different classes of fires; 

 (iii) Instruction in the handling of emergency situations, including— 

 A. Fire in flight or on the surface and smoke control procedures with emphasis 

 on electrical equipment and related circuit breakers found in cabin areas; and 

 B. Illness, injury, or other abnormal situations involving passengers or 

 crewmembers; 

m. Weight and balance; 

n. Performance planning; and 

o. Airplane's checklist. 

5. HFF must develop and maintain a written qualification and recurrent ground training 

 program for its PIC in the single-engine airplane that covers the areas of operations and 

 tasks, as listed in the following table of training tasks. Each PIC must successfully 

 accomplish this airplane specific training before being assigned PIC responsibilities and 

 duties. Each PIC must receive and accomplish the following training within the previous 

 12 calendar months and be found to be competent and proficient in these areas prior to 

 serving in a PIC position in the single-engine airplane: 

REQUIRED TRAINING TASKS 

a. Preflight Preparation, including— 

(i) Airplane exam (oral or written); and 
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 (ii) Airplane performance & limitations (oral or written). 

b. Ground Operations, including— 

(i) Preflight inspection; 

(ii) Cockpit resource management; 

(iii) Powerplant start procedures; 

(iv) Taxiing; and 

 (v) Pre-takeoff checks. 

c. Takeoffs & Departures, including— 

(i) Normal & crosswind takeoffs; 

(ii) Powerplant failure; and 

 (iii) Rejected takeoffs. 

d. In-flight Maneuvers, including— 

(i) Steep turns; 

(ii) Approach to stalls; 

(iii) Powerplant failure; and 

 (iv) Specific flight characteristics. 

e. Landings & Approaches to Landing, including— 

(i) Normal & crosswind approaches & landing; 

(ii) Maneuvering to a landing with a simulated powerplant failure; 

(iii) Rejected landing; and 

 (iv) Landing from a no flap or a nonstandard flap approach. 

f. Normal & Abnormal Procedures, including— 

(i) Powerplant; 

(ii) Fuel system; 

(iii) Electrical system; 

(iv) Hydraulic system; 

(v) Environmental & pressurization system (as appropriate and if equipped); 

(vi) Fire detection & extinguishing system; 

(vii) Navigation & avionics system; 

(viii)Automatic flight control system, electronic flight instrument system, & 

 related systems (as appropriate and if equipped); 

(ix) Flight control system; 

(x) Anti-ice & de-ice system; and 

 (xi) Airplane & personal emergency equipment. 

g. Emergency Procedures, including— 

(i) In-flight fire & smoke removal; 

(ii) Rapid decompression (as appropriate and if equipped with a pressurization 

 system); 

(iii) Emergency descent; 

(iv) Ditching; and 

 (v) Emergency evacuation. 

h. Post-flight Procedures, including— 

(i) After landing procedures; and 
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 (ii) Parking and securing airplane. 

6. HFF may not use a pilot nor may any pilot serve as a pilot in any airplane unless, since 

 the beginning of the 12th calendar month before that service, that pilot has passed a 

 competency check given by the FAA or an authorized check pilot in that airplane to 

 determine the pilot's competence in practical skills and techniques in the appropriate 

 airplane. The competency check will consist of the appropriate maneuvers and procedures 

 currently required for the original issuance of the commercial pilot certificate. The FAA’s 

 Windsor Locks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) will determine what maneuvers 

 and procedures are critical, such as preflight preparation, ground operations, takeoffs and 

 departures, and normal procedures, etc., and maneuvers and procedures that may be unsafe 

 for a particular airplane. 

7. Recurrent flight training for pilots must include, at least, flight training in the maneuvers 

 and procedures in this exemption. However, satisfactory completion of the check required 

 by this exemption within the preceding 12 calendar months may be substituted for 

 recurrent flight training. 

8. HFF must document and record all ground and flight training and/or testing required by 

 this grant of exemption in a manner acceptable to the FAA's Windsor Locks FSDO. That 

 documentation and records must contain the following information: 

a. Date of each training session; 

b. Date of each testing session; 

c. The amount of time of each session of ground and flight training given; 

d. The amount of time of each session of ground and flight testing given; 

e. Location where each session of ground and flight training was given; 

f. Location where each session of ground and flight testing was given; 

g. The airplane identification number in which each flight training session was 

 received; 

h. The airplane identification number in which each flight testing session was 

 received; 

i. The name and certificate number of the pilot who provided each session of training; 

j. The name and certificate number of the pilot who provided each session of testing; 

k. The signature and printed name of the pilot who received the training. That pilot's 

signature will serve as a verification of having received each session of training; 

and 

l. The signature and printed name of the pilot who received the testing. That pilot's 
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 signature will serve as a verification of having received each session of testing. 

9. When requested, the HFF's pilot qualification and recurrent ground- and flight-training 

 programs and/or records listed in conditions above must be made available to the 

 Windsor Locks FSDO, Firehouse Road, Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, 

 Connecticut 06096, (860) 654-1000. 

 

10. HFF must have the services of an FAA-certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic 

 or an appropriately rated repair station available at all stopovers to perform all required 

 maintenance inspections and repairs. 

11. HFF will maintain the following information and records and will make those records 

 available for review to the FAA when requested: 

a. The name of each pilot crewmember HFF authorizes to conduct flight operations 

 in its airplane under the terms of this exemption; 

b. Copies of each PIC's pilot certificate, medical certificate, qualifications, 

 and initial and recurrent training and testing documentation to comply with the 

 conditions listed above; and 

c. Records of maintenance performed and maintenance inspection records to comply 

 with the conditions above, as appropriate. Maintenance and inspection records 

must 

 meet the requirements of §§ 43.9, 43.11, and 91.405. 

12. Before permitting a person to be carried on board its airplane for the purposes authorized 

 under this exemption, HFF will inform that person that its airplane holds only a limited 

 airworthiness certificate; the significance of the airworthiness certificate as compared to a 

 standard airworthiness certificate; and that the FAA has authorized this flight under a 

 grant of exemption from the requirements of §§ 91.315, 91.319, 119.5(g), and 119.21(a). 

 The explanation of the significance of a limited airworthiness certificate, experimental 

 airworthiness certificate compared to a standard airworthiness certificate must include at 

 least the following information: 

a. The FAA has not established nor has it approved limited category airworthiness 

 certificated airplane manufacturing standards. The FAA has not established nor 

has 

 it approved experimental category airworthiness certificated airplane 

manufacturing 

 standards. In contrast, standard category airworthiness certificated airplanes are 

 manufactured to FAA-approved standards, including standards addressing the 

 design of the airplane and life-limited parts. 

b. Limited category airworthiness certificated airplanes are issued when the FAA 

 finds the airplane— 
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i. Has been previously issued a limited category type certificate and the 

 airplane conforms to that type certificate; and 

ii. To be in a good state of preservation and repair and is in a safe operating 

 condition. 

c. An airplane may be issued an experimental airworthiness certificate for the purpose 

 of exhibition when the airplane is intended only for exhibition of the airplane's 

 flight capabilities, performance, or unusual characteristics at airshows, motion 

 picture, television, and similar productions and the maintenance of exhibition flight 

 proficiency, including (for persons exhibiting the airplane) flying to and from such 

 airshows and productions. 

d. Standard category airworthiness certificates are issued for an airplane when the 

 FAA finds the— 

i. Airplane has been built and maintained in accordance with that airplane's 

 type certification standards as established by the FAA; and 

ii. Airplane's inspection and maintenance requirements are in compliance with 

 the applicable Federal Aviation Regulations. 

13. HFF must notify the Windsor Locks FSDO within 24 hours of any of the following 

 occurrences by written report, by electronic mail, or by facsimile: 

a. Each in-flight fire in any system or area that requires activation of any fire 

 suppression system or discharge of a portable fire extinguisher; 

b. Each exhaust system component failure, including the turbocharger components, 

 that causes damage to any engine, structure, cowling, or components; 

c. Each airplane component or system that causes, during flight, accumulation or 

 circulation of noxious fumes, smoke, or vapor in any portion of the cabin or crew 

 area; 

d. Except for training, each occurrence of engine shutdown or propeller feathering, 

 and the reason for such shutdown or feathering; 

e. Each failure of the propeller governing systems or feathering systems; 

f. Any landing gear system or component failure or malfunction, which requires use 

 of emergency or standby extension systems; 

g. Each failure or malfunction of the wheel brake system that causes loss of brake 

 control on the ground; 

h. Each airplane structure that requires major repair due to damage, deformation, or 

 corrosion, and the method of repair; 

i. Each failure or malfunction of the fuel system, tanks, pumps, or valves; 

j. Each malfunction, failure, or defect in any system or component that requires taking 

 emergency action of any type during the course of any flight; and 
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k. For the purpose of this section, "during flight" means the period from the moment 

 the airplane leaves the surface of the earth on takeoff until it touches down on 

 landing. 

14. All flight operations must be conducted: 

a. At a minimum operating altitude of not less than 1,000 feet above ground level 

 (AGL); 

b. Between the hours of official sunrise and sunset, as established in the American Air 

 Almanac, as converted to local time; 

c. Within a 25-statute-mile radius of the departure airport with landings only 

 permitted at the departure airport; 

d. With a minimum flight visibility of not less than 3 statute miles and a minimum 

 ceiling of not less than 1,500 feet AGL; 

e. Passenger-carrying operations for compensation may be conducted at distances 

 greater than 25 statute miles of the departure airport up to 50 statute miles with 

 concurrence of the FAA FSDO having geographic responsibility for the aviation 

 event. For such flights, landings are only permitted at the departure airport. The 

 operator must provide information pertaining to the proposed route of flight, which 

 will avoid densely populated areas or congested airways in accordance with 

 14 CFR § 91.319(c), for airplanes certificated in the experimental category. Those 

 operators utilizing airplanes certificated in the limited category are not bound by the 

 restriction regarding the avoidance of densely populated areas or congested 

airways; 

f. For passenger-carrying flights greater than 25 statute miles from the departure 

 airport and up to 50 statute miles, the PIC must obtain weather reports and forecasts 

 prior to flight and valid for the duration of the proposed operation that indicate that 

 the weather would be no less than 5 statute miles visibility and cloud ceilings no 

 less than 2,000 feet AGL. Passenger-carrying operations shall be terminated if 

 ceiling and visibility become less than the minimum required by these conditions 

 and limitations. Weather forecasts listing discriminators such as probability 

 (PROB), becoming (BECOMG), or temporarily (TEMPO) shall be limiting; and 

g. The airplane may only be operated from an airport that has a fire station or fire- 

 fighting services available or within close proximity of the airport. 

15. No persons other than the assigned flight crewmembers may be permitted on the pilot 

 station of the airplane during flight operations. 

16. All flight operations must carry no more than the maximum number of passengers 

permitted by the aircraft’s weight and balance limitations and number of approved seats in 

the aircraft. 
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17. All airplanes must have the equipment listed in §§ 91.205(b) and 91.207 and that 

 equipment must be in an operable condition during the flight. 

18. HFF must hold and continue to hold a determination from the U.S. Internal Revenue 

 Service that it is a § 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organization under 

 §§ 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

19. HFF must notify the Windsor Locks FSDO at least 5 working days (Mondays through 

 Fridays) before conducting any PIC or second in command (SIC) initial or recurrent 

 qualification training and any PIC or SIC initial or recurrent proficiency checks required 

 to be conducted under the terms of this grant of exemption. 

20. No later than 72 hours prior to commencing flight operations under the terms of this grant 

 of exemption, HFF must notify the jurisdictional FAA FSDO where it intends to conduct 

 the flight operations and shall provide a copy of this exemption to that jurisdictional FAA 

 FSDO. 

21. Failure to comply with any of the conditions and limitations of this grant of exemption 

 will be grounds for the immediate suspension or revocation of the exemption. 

22. The PIC is prohibited from performing aerobatic flight while passengers are onboard the 

aircraft. 

23. For all aircraft subject to this exemption, flight within 500 feet of another aircraft 

(i.e., formation flying) is prohibited. 

 24. Prior to flight, the PIC must ensure that a passenger briefing meeting the scope and 

content of § 135.117 has been provided to the passenger(s). 

25. No persons other than the assigned flight crewmembers may be permitted on the pilot 

station of the aircraft during flight operations. 

26. No persons other than the assigned flight crewmembers may be permitted to manipulate 

the flight controls during flight operations. 

27. All aircraft must have the equipment listed in §§ 91.205(b) and 91.207 and that 

equipment must be in an operable condition during the flight. 

28. HFF must develop a continuous analysis and management program for all aircraft subject 

to this exemption that ensures compliance with its inspection program, training program, 

and conditions and limitations of this exemption. 

Failure to comply with any of the conditions and limitations of this grant of exemption 

will be grounds for the immediate suspension or revocation of Exemption No. 9912, as 

amended. 
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The Effect of Our Decision 

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 9912 to July 31, 2013, unless 

sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

John W. McGraw 

Acting Director, Flight Standards 

 Service